Country footy chiefs plea for Gillon McLachlan to intervene on struggling local footy

Country footy chiefs have put club loyalties aside and banded together to make a desperate plea to AFL boss Gillon McLachlan to save “struggling” local footy or risk driving people away from the game forever.

AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan has been asked to intervene in a campaign to safeguard the future of country footy amid claims the grassroots game is struggling.

Country footy chiefs have urged AFL House to listen to concerns about management of the code outside Melbourne, fearing AFL Victoria is running community football into the ground.

Mr McLachlan received a letter from former AFL Gippsland commissioner John White last week, calling for his support in an “independent review of the relationship between your organisation and regional/community football’’.

“Club land is hurting and I think you know that; hence our call to do something about it,’’ the letter said.

AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan.

The Herald Sun last week revealed a push by several country footy chiefs for a State Government probe into AFL Victoria’s governance of the game.

An online petition since launched at change.org, urging Sports Minister Martin Pakula to sign off on the probe, had yesterday gathered hundreds of signatures.

The letter to Mr McLachlan said action was needed to make grassroots football and netball “flourish’’ in regional and country areas.

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“There is a level of disconnect and frustration directed at AFL Vic in the manner your organisation engages with regional/community football,’’ the letter said.

“These frustrations, in our view, are driving people away from the game and will continue to cause angst unless resolved.’’

AFL Victoria head Ricky Bell said “many initiatives’’ had been implemented “including increasing the number of AFL Victoria staff in country Victoria to support and service local clubs’’.

Former Gippsland AFL commissioner John White wants an independent review of the way footy is governed in country Victoria. Picture: Jason Edwards

“The societal landscape has changed over the last eight years, which is why AFL Vic with the support of the AFL, commenced a project earlier this year to review the current relationship and consult with stakeholders across the state,’’ he said.

But the letter said the push for an independent probe was “driven by the communities who rely on their clubs in galvanising the hard working volunteers serving those communities.’’

It said AFL Victoria should adopt a “bottom up rather than top down’’ approach to governance of the game in the regions.

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“The cost of administration has risen, the need for volunteers has increased and yet there remains questionable support from AFL Vic,’’ Mr White said in the memo to the AFL boss.

“Don’t believe me? Go ask people who toil each weekend trying to keep their clubs active and their heads above water,’’ he said.

Mr White told Mr McLachlan that country footy leaders had no desire to damage the game.

“Our aim is to improve the game and see it thrive,’’ he said in the letter.

“However, unless you recognise in a more tangible way the needs of regional/community football there is every chance of multiple club failures.

“And the loss of faith in what the AFL stands for.’’

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